FFXII takes place in a world called Ivalice. This is actually
the same world as featured in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance -- or,
at least, the fantasy world into which the characters warp at the
beginning of the game (we won't spoil the FF Tactics experience for
you by going into more depth).
At the center of the game's story are its hero Vaan (17) and
heroine Ashe (19). Vaan lives in the Damaska Kingdom, which has
been captured by the Arcadia Empire. Vaan has a personal connection
to the conquest of the Kingdom by the Empire in that he lost his
family to the Empire. He dreams of becoming an air pirate and one
day earning his own ship so that he can escape the empire
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/441/441084p1.html
